§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of(a) setting up and (b) maintaining the ABRO Challenger 2 overhaul line at Bovington in each of the last five years. [35036]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 14 February 2002]: The costs of setting up a Challenger 2 Base Inspection Repair line at the Army Base Repair Organisation Bovington are as follows:
Financial year 2000–01—a sum of £14,329 was spent on set-up tooling for pilot activity.Financial year 2001–02—ABRO working towards a contract with VDS have committed £251,276 to Base Inspection Repair of Challenger 2.There were no costs prior to these years.
A Base Inspection Repair contract let by the Tank Support Systems Integrated Project Team is still under negotiation. With full production yet to commence, and pilot activity only undertaken to date, the maintenance costs have been negligible.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for ABRO to act as a strategic partner with manufacturers for the repair of military vehicles. [35037]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 14 February 2002]: There are no formal arrangements in place for the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) to act as a strategic partner with manufacturers for the repair of military 697W vehicles. ABRO is having discussions with industry to develop future opportunities and currently has signed agreements to this effect with ALVIS and VDS which encourage the parties to discuss potential future projects.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military equipment ABRO maintains surge production capacity for times of conflict. [35039]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 14 February 2002]: The Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) does not maintain dedicated surge capacity for any specific equipments. The requirement for military surge capability is protected by both the diversity of the Ministry of Defence work placed with ABRO and the working regime that ABRO has in place to meet this.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the work allocated to ABRO in each of the last four years was put out to tender for competitive bids; and if he will make a statement. [35040]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 14 February 2002]: The following work was won by the Army Base Repair Organisation as a result of competitive bids:
Financial Year £ million 1998–99 11.987 1999–2000 0.216 2000–01 4.749 2001–02 NIL
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement setting out the strategic purpose of ABRO. [35041]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 14 February 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence after careful review has decided that the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) should vest as a trading fund with effect from 1 April 2002. This will be the subject of debate in Standing Committee on 26 February 2002. ABRO provides a comprehensive engineering and logistics support service, principally repair and maintenance, for land-based equipment of Her Majesty's armed forces. The work ranges from the complete overhaul and modification of major military vehicles to upgrades to radios and weapons. ABRO provides independent equipment advice, support to obsolete equipment no longer provided by industry and a unique surge capacity. The need to meet military surge capacity is safeguarded by both the diversity of the Ministry of Defence work place with ABRO and the working regime that the agency employs. Trading fund status will enable the MOD to realise a broad range of benefits, including a clearer customer/supplier relationship through hard charging, while retaining the flexibility to support operations, which MOD ownership provides. Trading fund will also enable ABRO to sustain its operations in support of MOD by providing similar engineering services to industry under commercial arrangements.